How to import customers from CSV in AcboBooks

In this lesson you will

Prepare a CSV file AcboBooks can read
Import customers, vendors or service items
Know what is skipped

Before you start

A spreadsheet or CSV export of the list

Import Data with six customer rows ready to import

Prepare the file

Step 1: Save the list as CSV with a header row

The first row must name the columns. A column whose header contains name is required. For customers and vendors AcboBooks also reads company, email and phone; for items, price (or rate or amount). Other columns are ignored. If your list is in Excel, use File → Save As → CSV.

Tip: Items come in as services, all posting to one income account you choose. Add inventory items, or anything that needs more fields, in Lists → Products & Services.

Import it

Step 2: Open Lists → Import Data

Choose Customers, Vendors or Items (services) in What to import (for items, also the Income account), then click Choose CSV… and pick the file. AcboBooks counts the rows it can read; click the Import button to bring them in.

What to import
Choose CSV…
The columns AcboBooks reads
Import 6: one button with the row count

Import Data with a customers CSV loaded: 6 rows ready to import

Step 3: Check the result

The message says how many were imported and how many were skipped. Rows are skipped when the name is blank or already exists; here Acme Corporation was already a customer.

Imported 5 new customers, 1 skipped

Imported 5 new customers, 1 skipped (blank or already existed)

Recap

Save the list as CSV with a header row and a name column
Import it with Lists → Import Data
Know that existing names are skipped

Saved in this browser only. No account needed.

Questions

Can I import an .xlsx file directly?

Import Data reads CSV only. Save the sheet as CSV first. (QuickBooks Online's Excel exports go through Company → Migrate from QuickBooks instead.)

Does it update customers that already exist?

No. Existing names are skipped and left as they are. Edit them in Lists → Customers.

Can I import opening balances this way?

No. Give a customer or vendor an opening balance in its New Customer or New Vendor window, or migrate the balances from QuickBooks.

Screenshots from AcboBooks 0.2.2 with the built-in sample company. Updated October 25, 2026. Your screens may differ slightly with another version or window size.

Import customers, vendors and services from a CSV file